Discussion

The result of combining two therapies resulted in significant differences in the lives of these 14 clients with amputations, regardless of whether it was an acute amputation or if the amputation occurred over 8 months previously. For the acute amputees, their recovery and subsequent functioning improved rather than beginning a downward cycle of pain, discomfort, and poor quality of life. Previous to the intervention, the amputees with longer term amputations frequently report increased PLP symptoms at night and thus had significant sleep disturbances impacting all other ADL/IADL tasks and quality of life. With this intervention, the subjects improved their functioning, sleep, satisfaction, and quality of life.

Conclusion

This protocol provides a cost-effective, drug-free alternative to current phantom limb pain treatments. This was observed in both acute amputees and with clients who had amputations between 8-18 months previously. The results show robust findings that the function and quality of life for our older adults with vascular disorders can be improved through use of innovative technology and intervention.

Discussion

This combined treatment protocol reduced phantom limb pain such that the participating amputees increased their participation in their activities of everyday life and subsequently improved their quality of life.

Of the eleven acute subjects, nine indicated improvement in functional performance and quality of life measures. The exceptions had medical complications that required them to drop from the study. Of the five subjects with amputations from 8-28 months previously, all five improved on most measures of functional performance and quality of life measures. Functional outcomes from this study are promising. If future research demonstrates the same outcomes as this study, an alternative treatment protocol to decrease and possibly eliminate the debilitating effects of phantom limb pain in amputees would be established.

Conclusion

This protocol provides a cost-effective, drug-free alternative to current phantom limb pain treatments. If the time between amputation and prosthetic fitting can be decreased, as it did in this study, medical costs can be significantly reduced. The results of this study show robust findings that the function and quality of life for our older adults with vascular disorders can be improved through use of innovative technology and intervention.

Discussion

As a result of this combined treatment protocol: All 14 subjects reported an overall decrease in phantom limb pain. Need for pain medication decreased. While wearing amputee limb cover the residual limb temperature decreased by 1.189C.

Acute group: improved wound healing and edema reduction, decreased the time for a prosthetic fitting from 12 weeks to 8 weeks, significant for improving functional ambulation, return to work and decreasing wheelchair mobility dependence.

Chronic group: prosthetic wearing times increased from 0-2 hours per day to 8-12 hours per day due to decreased phantom limb pain, decrease in residual limb temperature and edema reduction.
Implications for Practice:

Conclusion

The use of this combined treatment protocol may improve wound healing by reducing edema, decrease phantom limb pain and decrease residual limb temperature (excess heat being a common complaint with prosthetic users). These factors can reduce time to prosthetic fitting by as much as four weeks for acute amputees and increase prosthetic tolerance for chronic amputees, increasing functional participation in life.

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